We're considering visiting Marseille during our upcoming trip at the end of the month. We have a car but I don't want to drive into the city. I was thinking of taking a train from Aix TGV to Marseille St Charles. It looks like a real quick trip and there are many options to/from throughout the day. My question is, do I have to buy tickets in advance or can we just purchase tickets upon arrival? if it matters, we're thinking of Saturday, June 27.
If possible, I'd really love the flexibility to come and go at will but I have no idea if these trains sell out or not.
Thanks!

Hi, ILUVPARIS, No help here re the train but DH and I took the bus from Aix to Marseille...this was many years ago but it was cheaper and faster then. Bus drop off was closer to the harbor than the Gare also. Please share what you end up doing.

We also took the bus. Aix and Marseilles both have very nice bus terminals with many that go back and forth.

Gare Routière d'Aix-en-Provence should have a website.

Why do you want to go to the TGV station? Are you staying near there? Do you know where that TGV station is, it isn't in town. Unless you have a reason for that, just take a ZOU train from town center or take a bus. Yes, both take a bit longer than a highspeed train but they are still less than an hour trip and would be a lot easier. And no worry about tickets, they have those all day, also.

The bus leaves from the Gare Routiere (bus station), I think. that is a bit south of the Rotonde in AIx, just google it

It is bus L50
https://itineraires-zou.maregionsud..../OUTWARD/48324

the train takes about 45 minutes and you should see it on scnf-connect.com (ZOU) if you put in Aix gare centre to Marseille St Charles. there are trains all day about every hour real cheap.

As for your TGV ticket? It would probably be ok and wouldn't sell out but I wouldn't do it.

Ditto, the Aix TGV station is WAAAY out of town, actually not all that far from the Marseille-Provence airport near Marignane. Definitely do the bus instead, as Christina points out above, since the gare routière (bus station) is actually quite central and an easy walk. This route is very well served with departures every 30 min or so as I recall.

Yes, I know where the TGV station is. We aren't staying in Aix, we're staying in Bonnieux.
The reason I opted for the TGV is because the station has lots of parking and it's also only a 12 minute train ride from Aix to Marseille. This seems simpler because the bus station in Aix city center doesn't have parking, or at least that's what I read, and because of this---it was suggested we park at a park & ride outside the city and take transport to the bus station. Maybe it's just me but this sounds overly complicated. I know the TGV is further out but it's cheap, the ride is short and it's seems simpler than using multiple means of transport.

Christina, I had seen the bus you mention above and I was going to take it until I found out there's no parking at the station. I guess this wasn't an issue for people here. In general, I think Aix will be busy on a Saturday in June, and then there's the market as well, so street parking will be pretty much non existent.

I didn't think this was that crazy an idea but I've never done it before so if I'm missing something---let me know.

oh, well, that makes sense I guess, somehow I was reading that you didn't have a car. I can understand your preference since you want parking and aren't even staying near Aix. So back to who knows on the TGV tickets it's not a special holiday I don't think. I guess you can check closer to the date to see I'd probably worry about going more than returning, but I'm guessing (that people might be going somewhere Sat morning for holiday but likely wouldn't be boing to Aix later in the day on Saturday). They really don't have tons of direct runs on Saturday though, only around midday. And they don't have any direct returns later in the day. They have some with changes around 4:30 pm and 6 pm but those take a lot longer, some almost two hours or more. The curious thing is it says you can't reserve those (I checked for this Saturday) and it's not because it's too far off, obviously. And they are TGVs.

There are plenty reservable now for late afternoon 6/27 that are direct (INOUI), if I were you, I would reserve as they aren't that expensive (the INOUI trains). They are only about 7 euro. You could splurge and even book two if you weren't sure of time. That TGV does go farther north, of course, it's possible they are already booked up (the ones at 5 pm and 6:27 pm).

My brain didn't register TGV. Sorry! Since you aren't in Aix, I say go for it. Still, share how it works.